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Historic Adventism

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Historic Adventists” is a self-designation used by some within the Seventh-day Adventist church who regard themselves as upholding the traditional theological positions of the church. They are also known as “traditional Adventists”.

As a general rule, historic Adventists feel that the church has departed from key doctrinal platforms (or "pillars") ever since the second half of the 20th century. Specifically, they point to the publication in 1957 of a book entitled Seventh-day Adventists Answer Questions on Doctrine; this book is considered to undermine historic Adventist theology in favour of theology more compatible with evangelicalism.

Prominent figures in historic Adventism include M. L. Andreasen, Herbert Douglass, Dennis Priebe, and Russell and Colin Standish. The Last Generation Theology movement, Hope International and the “Concerned Brethren” are expressions of historic Adventism.

While historic Adventists have generally not broken away from the Adventist denomination to form their own church, believing that the Adventist church is still God’s chosen instrument, many historic Adventists feel that the wider church has apostatized and some even argue that the denominational leadership is presently in apostasy.

Historic Adventists lie at the opposite end of the Adventist theological spectrum to progressive Adventists.

Theology

Historic Adventists tend to place equal emphasis on sanctification and justification, believing that both are necessary for salvation. They define the atonement in terms of God’s work to cleanse our character from sin as well as payment of the penalty for sin. The work of Christ in the heavenly sanctuary is regarded as a continuation of the work of atonement begun on the cross.

Historic Adventists hold that Ellen G. White was a prophet and as such is a doctrinal authority.

Publications

Land Marks is a monthly magazine produced by Steps to Life, an organisation committed to historic Adventism.

Criticism

Mainstream and progressive Adventists have criticised the use of the term "historic", however it is ill founded.

Historic Adventists are very loving in their evangelism and deny that the charge of fanaticism applies to them. And they quote statements by Ellen White to support their view. For instance:

"Men will misrepresent the doctrines we believe and teach as Bible truth, and it is necessary that wise plans should be laid to secure the privilege of inserting articles into the secular papers; for this will be a means of awakening souls to see the truth. God will raise up men who will be qualified to sow beside all waters. God has given great light upon important truths, and it must come to the world."
"We must take every justifiable means of bringing the light before the people. Let the press be utilized, and let every advertising agency be employed that will call attention to the work. This should not be regarded as nonessential. On every street corner you may see placards and notices calling attention to various things that are going on, some of them of the most objectionable character; and shall those who have the light of life be satisfied with feeble efforts to call the attention of the masses to the truth?"

Official church reaction

The Seventh-day Adventist church has officially reacted to certain organisations which espouse "historic Adventist" theology by filing law suits against them, even thought it goes against both the bible and Advenist doctrine.

See also

References

  1. Ellen G. White, Letter 1, 1875.
  2. Ellen G. White, Evangelism, p. 130.

External links

A Proposal for Dialogue and Reconciliation.

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